GoPro Hero 5 Release Date: Could Be Waterproof Up To 60 Meters When It Releases

There have been sparse official news from GoPro Inc. about the specs, price, and release date of the latest iteration of the GoPro Hero, leaving fans of the action camera to speculate on why the company has delayed the release of the hotly anticipated device.

According to Neurogadget, the GoPro Hero 5 was slated for an October release. But with that month drawing to a close, reports came out that the company decided to move the release date to early 2016, saying that the delay was made so that improvements could be made on the new camera. For the record, GoPro Inc. has not released a launch date for the GoPro Hero 5 and is unlikely to announce a 2015 launch with just over a month left in the year. This has left many sports and adventure enthusiasts who were looking forward to a pre-holiday release disappointed.

Last month, MarketWatch reported that the delay may have affected the company's profits, as GoPro shares took an all-time low after the company was reported to have missed its third-quarter profit and sales goals. Analysts suggested that the company's error was in failing to launch the GoPro Hero 5 and, instead, promoting the smaller Hero 4, which was released in September 2014.

Though some analysts suggest that the delay may lead to GoPro Inc. shares falling even further, the camera brand may just come out with a product that will pull it out of its stock slump. The GoPro Hero 5 is said to be smaller and lighter than the Hero 4. According to the same Neurogadget report, the new action camera has improved waterproofing features that allow it to function underwater to a depth of 60 meters. It is also said to have improved battery life, allowing for two hours of video recording when fully charged, and an improved Bluetooth feature for faster upload speeds than older GoPro cameras.